U16C Football Championship final
Naomh Comhghall 4-12 Rasharkin 0-18
The old saying, goals win games! rang clear at St. Mary’s Ahoghill on Sunday afternoon as Naomh Comhghall, Antrim defeated St. Mary’s Rasharkin in a highly entertaining U16C championship final.
Matthew McLornan hit 1-4 and his colleague, Thomas Doherty contributed 1-2 with the ‘Town’s’ other first half 2 pointer coming from Michael Sloan as they led St. Mary’s 2-8 to 0-7 at half time at a sun kissed Cloney.
Shea McFerran was Rasharkin’s leading marksman during the opening period and he contributed 0-5 during a first half where those two goals were the difference with Conor McGaughey and Paddy Carey adding points apiece.
Whatever the Rasharkin half time talk contained, it seemed to work with the Blue & Amber hoops rattling off three quick points on the restart through Conor McGaughey, Sean Casey and a Paul McMullan free to close the gap to four by the 4th minute.
Their good work was soon undone however when Naomh Comhghall were awarded a penalty in their first attack of the half and team captain Michael Sloan confidently stroked it home.
Shea McFerran from play and then with a converted free and another well struck point from Paul McMullan had it back to four again at the end of the third quarter and at this stage the momentum was very much with the boys from Dreen.
Naomh Comhghall then lost a player to a Black card as Shea McFerran added another St. Mary’s point and it was down to three and Naomh Comhghall were in need of a score to stem the tide.
Pearse Harrison provided one and then another from two converted frees before Shea McFerran replied again for the St. Mary’s side and another from Paul McMullan had it back to three again.
It still looked anybody’s game at this stage with Michael Sloan hitting a great point from distance for the Antrim town side and McMullan and Harrison exchanged further points as the clock counted down.
With three still the difference between the sides Naomh Comhghall won a ‘45’ and Michael Sloan’s well struck effort looked to have the legs for a point but it dipped at the last minute and deceived Patrick McFadden, who was facing the blinding sun, and ended in the net. A great game of football littered with some excellent scores but in the end it was goals that proved the difference and it was a proud Michael Sloan who received the U16C Cup from Rasharkin stalwart, Danny McLarnon
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